LSLA elects John McElroy as new President

PRESS RELEASE

15 April 2026

LSLA elects John McElroy as new President

 

The London Solicitors Litigation Association (LSLA) has appointed John McElroy, Partner at Fieldfisher, as its new President. He succeeds Nikki Edwards at Fox & Partners and will serve a term of two years.

John becomes LSLA President at a time of continued geopolitical uncertainty, economic pressure, and rapid technological change. Together with trends such as the growing prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), sanctions, and fraud-related claims, these factors are expected to shape both the nature and volume of litigation in London.

Meanwhile, procedural developments driven by principles such as Open Justice and the digitisation of the courts are likely to directly influence how disputes are managed in London. Under John's leadership, the LSLA will continue to provide a voice for its members on these issues and their impact, working closely with the Judiciary, Bar and other stakeholders to ensure that London maintains its position at the forefront of global litigation. 

John's presidency will be defined by several key priorities: strengthening the LSLA's role as a bridge between solicitors and the judiciary; reinforcing its position as a platform for collaboration across the litigation community; and continuing to advance the LSLA's work on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

The LSLA provides its members with a unique opportunity to network with fellow professionals. This year, it launched its Judicial Shadowing and Mentorship Schemes to help members broaden their reach further and benefit from the experience of others beyond their place of work. As LSLA President, John will continue to focus on fostering collaboration and enabling members to build connections beyond their existing networks, encouraging professional growth and knowledge-sharing, and in turn helping London maintain its global litigation crown.

As the LSLA continues to deepen its engagement with the judiciary, it is increasingly involved in shaping legal reform at an early stage, playing a role in framing consultations at the outset. John is committed to maintaining and strengthening this proactive role during his presidency, ensuring that the perspectives of practising litigators help inform the development of policy and procedure.

Building on the progress made under Nikki Edwards' presidency, John will further advance the organisation's commitment to championing inclusive leadership and strengthening DEI across the profession. The LSLA is committed to this agenda and leads by example: its diverse Leadership Committee reflects the breadth of backgrounds, perspectives and experience across the profession, underscoring that diversity of thought and leadership is essential to the continued strength and innovation of London's litigation market.

The LSLA does not shy away from issues of DEI and wellbeing. and will keep tackling these challenges head-on under John's lead.

Ceri Morgan, Knowledge Counsel at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, is the new Vice-President of the LSLA and will support John across the association's activities. 

Commenting on his new role, John said:

"I am honoured to become President of the LSLA and look forward to leading the organisation into its 75th year as it continues to act as a voice and driver of change in the litigation industry.

The litigation community faces a range of challenges at present, including issues around AI and DEI. Collaboration is vital to addressing them, and the LSLA plays a central role in bringing members of the profession together.

A key priority for me as President is furthering the dialogue between solicitors and the judiciary. Many issues that solicitors encounter daily won't be seen by judges until a much later stage in a dispute, while judges bring a broader institutional perspective and play an important role in shaping the development and application of procedure and legal principles. 

The LSLA hosts events for its members and judges that provide early visibility if these issues and developments, creating space for constructive discussion. This strengthens mutual understanding across the profession and means the LSLA is invited into policy discussions at an earlier stage, helping to ensure London maintains its position as the global litigation capital. I look forward to continuing this throughout my presidency.

I would also like to pay tribute to Nicholas Heaton, President of the LSLA from 2022-2024, who passed away recently, and who's commitment to the LSLA leaves a lasting legacy. He was a much-valued colleague and friend."

For media enquiries, please contact Chloe Skeath, Bell Yard Kysen on 07951233819 or email: chloe@bykomms.com

Note to Editors:

The LSLA was formed in 1952 and currently represents the interest of a wide range of civil litigators in London. It has almost 3,600 members throughout London among all the major litigation practices, ranging from the sole practitioner to major international firms. 

Members of the LSLA Committee sit on The Law Society Civil Litigation Committee, the Commercial Court Users Committee, the Chancery Court Users Committee and the Collective Redress Lawyers Association, among others.